Golf cleaning device and method of use

ABSTRACT

A method of using a golf cleaning device includes providing a golf cleaning device comprising a cleaning portion made of an absorbent cleaning material, and a fastening portion connected to the cleaning portion; providing a horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer&#39;s waist; connecting the fastening portion of the golf cleaning device to the horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer&#39;s waist so that the cleaning portion hangs down from a golfer&#39;s waist area partway along a leg of the golfer; and cleaning a golf-related item with the cleaning portion of the golf cleaning device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is in the field of golf cleaning devices and methods for cleaning golf-related items such as golf clubs and golf balls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] During golf play or practice, a golf club head may become dirty from the golf club head contacting grass, dirt, mud, or sand. A golf ball may also retain grass, dirt, or mud on its surface or in its dimples. Further, moisture from a golfer's hands can make the grip of a club wet and slick. Some golfers keep a large golf towel with their golf bag to clean their golf clubs and golf ball. Some of the problems with these large golf towels include that they can be clumsy, and are usually not readily available, especially when the golfer is on the green.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An aspect of the invention involves a method of using a golf cleaning device. The method includes providing a golf cleaning device comprising a cleaning portion made of an absorbent cleaning material, a fastening portion connected to the cleaning portion; providing a horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist; connecting the fastening portion of the golf cleaning device to the horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist so that the cleaning portion hangs down from a golfer's waist area partway along a leg of the golfer; and cleaning a golf-related item with the cleaning portion of the golf cleaning device.

[0004] Another aspect of the invention involves a golf cleaning device that attaches to a horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist. The golf cleaning device includes a cleaning portion made of an absorbent cleaning material to clean a golf-related item, and a fastening portion connected to the cleaning portion. The fastening portion is connectable to the horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist so that the cleaning portion hangs down from a golfer's waist area partway along a leg of the golfer.

[0005] A further aspect of the invention involves a method of advertising using a golf cleaning device. The method includes providing a golf cleaning device comprising a cleaning portion made of an absorbent cleaning material, a non-exposed side and an exposed side with advertising, a fastening portion connected to the cleaning portion; providing a horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist; and connecting the fastening portion of the golf cleaning device to the horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist so that the cleaning portion hangs down from a golfer's waist area partway along a leg of the golfer and the exposed side of the cleaning portion is exposed away from the golfer displaying the advertising.

[0006] Other features and advantages of the invention will be evident from reading the following detailed description, which is intended to illustrate, but not limit, the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The drawings illustrate the design and utility of preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a golf cleaning device.

[0009]FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial-perspective view of a corner of the golf cleaning device of FIG. 1 and shows an embodiment of a removable ball marker.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a partial-perspective view of the golf cleaning device of FIG. 1 and shows a couple exemplary rigid members that may be disposed within a pouch of the golf cleaning device.

[0011] FIGS. 4-6 illustrate an exemplary method of attaching the golf cleaning device of FIG. 1 to a belt of a golfer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a golf cleaning device 10 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will now be described. The golf cleaning device 10 may be used to clean golf-related items such as, but not by way of limitation, cleaning the mud, sand, grass, dirt, water or other debris from a golf club head or golf ball, and removing the moisture from wet golf club grips. Although the golf cleaning device 10 is described as cleaning these golf-related items, the golf cleaning device 10 may be used for cleaning other golf-related items or may be used in a non-golf setting for cleaning non-golf items.

[0013] The golf cleaning device 10 is preferably constructed of an absorbent, mildly abrasive 100% cotton-fiber material. In alternative embodiments, the golf cleaning device 10 may be constructed of other types of materials or combinations of materials. In the embodiment shown, the golf cleaning device 10 includes a generally rectangular cleaning portion 20 having a width W and a height H. The height H is preferably a greater length than the width W. With the golf cleaning device 10 attached at the waist of a golfer as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the cleaning portion 20 is sized to hang down from the golfer's waist area and extend partway along the thigh of one of the legs of the golfer, and not lower than the thigh. Although the cleaning portion 10 is described as being rectangular in shape, in alternative embodiments, the cleaning portion may have a different rectilinear shape, curvilinear shape, or combination rectilinear and curvilinear shape.

[0014] The cleaning portion 20 preferably includes an exposed side (or front face) 30 and a non-exposed side (or rear face) 40. The exposed side 30 includes an upper half 50 and a lower half 60. One or more advertisements 70 may be located in the upper half 50 of the exposed side 30 and the lower half 60 is used for cleaning the golf-related item that requires cleaning. In alternative embodiments, the lower half 60 carries one or more advertisements 70 or the upper half 50 and the lower half 60 carry one or more advertisements 70. The one or more advertisements may include one or more company names/logos (e.g., a golf course or country club name/logo and/or another company name/logo). Indicia other than advertisements such as, but not by way of limitation, the golfer's name (e.g., Bob, Jones, Bob Jones) or the name of an event (e.g., Bob's Bachelor Party) bay be displayed on the exposed side 30 of the cleaning portion 20.

[0015] The cleaning portion 20 may include multiple sections made of different materials of different roughness/abrasiveness for different types of cleaning. For example, a rougher section of the cleaning portion 20 may be used to remove dried mud or other hard-to-remove contaminants and a smoother section of the cleaning portion 20 may be used to remove water, wet grass, sand or other easier-to-remove contaminants.

[0016] With reference to FIG. 2, a removable ball marker 80 may be carried by the cleaning portion 10, preferably in a corner 90 of the cleaning portion 10. The removable ball marker 80 may snap into a female receiving member, which is attached to the cleaning portion 20.

[0017] A fastening portion or neck 100 is connected to the cleaning portion 20 via a shoulder portion 105. The fastening portion 100 connects the golf cleaning device 10 to a horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist. Examples of horizontally extending supports include, but not by way of limitation, a belt that extends through loops on the waist of a golfer's clothing (e.g., pants, shorts, knickers, skirts, etc.), and the waist of the golfer's clothing.

[0018] The fastening portion 100 is preferably made of the same material as the cleaning portion 20, namely, an absorbent, mildly abrasive 100% cotton-fiber material. The fastening portion 100 includes an intermediate portion 110 and a terminating flap 120 that join at a fold 130. The flap 120 may be formed by doubling over the end of the fastening portion 100 to form a closed bottom 150, stitching together opposite sides 140, and folding over the fastening portion 100 at the fold 130.

[0019] A pouch 160 in the flap 120 may carry one or more rigid members 170 that provide structural support to the pouch 160 and fastening portion 100. One of the rigid members 170 may be a divot-repair tool 180 that is insertable into and removable from the pouch 160. One of the rigid members 170 may be a multi-functional tool 190 that is insertable into and removable from the pouch 160. The multi-functional tool 190 is preferably made of plastic and includes a generally rectangular, thin, block-shaped construction. In addition to providing support structural support for the flap 120, the multifunctional tool 190 may be used to cleans the grooves in a club face and clean spikes of a golf shoe. The multi-functional tool 190 preferably has a width w₂ at least ⅔ the width w₁ of the pouch 160.

[0020] The flap 120 includes an exposed side (or front face) 200 and a non-exposed side (or rear face) 210. In an alternative embodiment, the exposed side 200 may include a rougher, more abrasive material than the material of the cleaning portion 20. The firmness provided by the rigid member 170 makes the exposed side 200 an ideal cleaning surface for removing dried mud or other hard-to-remove contaminants from the golf-related device. A rougher, more abrasive material on the exposed side 200 of the flap 120 facilitates cleaning of hard-to-remove contaminants. The exposed side 200 of the flap 120 may include one or more advertisements 70 in addition to or instead of the one or more advertisements 70 on the exposed side 30 of the cleaning portion 20.

[0021] The width w₁ of the pouch 160 is preferably less than the width W of the cleaning portion 20. In an embodiment of the golf cleaning device 10 where the fastening portion 100 has a varying width and/or the cleaning portion 20 has a varying width, the average width of the fastening portion 100 is preferably less than the average width of the cleaning portion 20. In alternative embodiments, the width (or average width) of the fastening portion 100 may be the same or greater than the width (or average width) of the cleaning portion 20.

[0022] In alternative embodiments, the golf cleaning device 10 may not include one or more of the following: the pouch 160, the one or more rigid members 170, the removable ball marker 80, and the advertising 70. Further, in alternative embodiments, the golf cleaning device 10 may include one or more items in addition to or instead of the divot-repair tool 180 and the ball marker 80. Examples of other items include, but not by way of limitation, a golf ball holder, a golf tee holder, a writing instrument holder, a score card holder, a rule book holder, a golf glove holder, a suntan lotion holder, a lip balm holder, a glasses holder, and a camera holder.

[0023] With reference additionally to FIGS. 4-6, a method of using the golf cleaning device 10 will now be described. The golf cleaning device 10 is connected to a horizontally extending support 220 adjacent a golfer's waist. In the embodiment shown, the horizontally extending support 220 is a belt 230 that extends through loops 240 on a waist 250 of a golfer's clothing 260. It should be noted, if a belt 230 is not available, the golf cleaning device 10 may be connected to the waist 250 of the golfer's clothing. The waist 250 is an example of another type of horizontally extending support 220 that the golf cleaning device 10 may be connected to. The golf cleaning device 10 may be connected to the belt 230 by inserting the flap 120 and the intermediate portion 110 between the belt 230 and the waist 250, pulling the flap 120 and the intermediate portion 110 upward, and flipping the flap 120 over a front 270 of the belt 230 so that the flap 120 hangs from the belt 230 at the fold 130 and the exposed side 200 of the flap 120 faces away from the golfer. In this position, the golf cleaning device 10 hangs down from a golfer's waist area partway along a leg of the golfer, and preferably not lower than the thigh. The golfer cleans a golf-related item (e.g., club head, golf ball, golf club grip) with the exposed side 30 of the cleaning portion 20 and/or the exposed side 200 of the flap 120.

[0024] Alternatively, if a belt 230 is not available, the flap 120 may be inserted between the waist 250 of the golfer's clothing 260 and the waist of the golfer so that the cleaning portion 20 hangs from the waist 250 at the fold 130. Because of this alternative method of connecting the golf cleaning device 10, an opening to the pouch 160 may also exist on the non-exposed side 210 of the flap 120 for accessing the one or more rigid members 170 in the pouch.

[0025] In the embodiment of the golf cleaning device 10 where the golf cleaning device 10 includes the removable ball marker 80, the ball marker 80 is removed from the golf cleaning device 10, a golf ball is marked with the ball marker 80 on the green, and the ball marker 80 is later attached to the golf cleaning device 10.

[0026] In the embodiment of the golf cleaning device 10 where the golf cleaning device 10 includes the removable divot-repair tool 180, the divot-repair tool 180 is removed from the pouch 160, a divot is repaired with the divot-repair tool 180, the divot-repair tool 180 is cleaned with the golf cleaning device 10, and the divot repair tool 180 is inserted back into the pouch 160.

[0027] In the embodiment of the golf cleaning device 10 where the golf cleaning device 10 includes the removable multi-functional tool 190, the multi-functional tool 190 is removed from the pouch 160, the function is performed with the multi-functional tool 190 (e.g., cleaning the grooves in a club face, cleaning spikes of a golf shoe), the multi-functional tool 190 is cleaned with the golf cleaning device 10, and the multi-functional tool 190 is inserted back into the pouch 160.

[0028] In the embodiment of the golf cleaning device 10 where the golf cleaning device 10 includes one or more advertisements 70 on the exposed side 30 of the golf cleaning device 10, attachment of the golf cleaning device 10 to the horizontally extending support 220 in either of the methods set forth above causes the one or more advertisements 70 to face away from the golfer, making them visible to others.

[0029] The golf cleaning device 10 allows a golfer to easily and conveniently clean golf balls and golf clubs without the burden of having to drag around a large golf towel and while holding the ball marker 80 and divot-repair tool 180 in an easily accessible place. The golf cleaning device 10 is effortlessly attached to the horizontal extending support 220 (e.g., belt, waist of pants, shorts) of the golfer's clothing. The golf cleaning device 10 is virtually unnoticeable by the golfer until it is needed and does not interfere with a golfer's swing, putt, or comfort.

[0030] While preferred embodiments and methods have been shown and described, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous alterations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited except in accordance with the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of using a golf cleaning device, comprising: providing a golf cleaning device comprising a cleaning portion made of an absorbent cleaning material, and a fastening portion connected to the cleaning portion; providing a horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist; connecting the fastening portion of the golf cleaning device to the horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist so that the cleaning portion hangs down from a golfer's waist area partway along a leg of the golfer; and cleaning a golf-related item with the cleaning portion of the golf cleaning device.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including a removable ball marker carried by the golf cleaning device, and the method further includes removing the ball marker from the golf cleaning device, marking a golf ball on the green, and attaching the ball marker to the golf cleaning device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fastening portion includes a pouch, and the golf cleaning device further includes at least one rigid member in the pouch that provides structural support to the pouch.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one rigid member is a divot-repair tool that is insertable and removable with respect to the pouch, and the method further includes removing the divot-repair tool from the pouch, repairing a divot with the divot-repair tool, cleaning the divot-repair tool with the golf cleaning device and inserting the divot repair tool back into the pouch.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the pouch has a width and the at least one rigid member has a width at least ⅔ the width of the pouch, and the at least one rigid member is a multi-functional tool that is insertable and removable with respect to the pouch and in addition to providing support structural support performs at least one of the following functions cleans the grooves in a club face and clean spikes of a golf shoe, and the method further includes removing the multi-functional tool from the pouch, performing at least one of the aforementioned functions with the multi-functional tool and inserting the multi-functional tool back into the pouch.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the golf cleaning device includes an exposed side and a non-exposed side, and the method further includes providing advertising on the exposed side of the golf cleaning device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the horizontally extending support is a golfer's belt that extends through loops on the waist of a golfer's clothing, the fastening portion includes an intermediate portion and a terminating flap, and connecting the fastening portion of the golf cleaning device includes pulling the flap and intermediate portion upward between the golfer's belt and the waist of the golfer's clothing, and hanging the flap over a front of the golfer's belt.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fastening portion includes at least one rigid member and a exposed side made of an absorbent cleaning material, the at least one rigid member providing structural support to the exposed side, and the method further includes cleaning a golf-related item with the cleaning material of the exposed side of the fastening portion.
 9. The method of claim 9, wherein the cleaning portion includes an average width and the fastening portion includes an average width less than the average width of the cleaning portion.
 10. A golf cleaning device that attaches to a horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist, comprising: a cleaning portion made of an absorbent cleaning material to clean a golf-related item; and a fastening portion connected to the cleaning portion, the fastening portion connectable to the horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist so that the cleaning portion hangs down from a golfer's waist area partway along a leg of the golfer.
 11. The golf cleaning device of claim 10, further including a removable ball marker carried by the golf cleaning device.
 12. The golf cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the fastening portion includes a pouch, and the golf cleaning device further includes at least one rigid member in the pouch that provides structural support to the pouch.
 13. The golf cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the at least one rigid member is a divot-repair tool that is insertable and removable with respect to the pouch.
 14. The golf cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the pouch has a width and the at least one rigid member has a width at least ⅔ the width of the pouch, and the at least one rigid member is a multi-functional tool that is insertable and removable with respect to the pouch, and configured to clean the grooves in a club face and clean spikes of a golf shoe.
 15. The golf cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the golf cleaning device includes an exposed side and a non-exposed side, and the exposed side includes advertising.
 16. The golf cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the horizontally extending support is a golfer's belt that extends through loops on the waist of a golfer's clothing, the fastening portion includes an intermediate portion and a terminating flap, and the fastening portion hangs on the golfer's belt in the intermediate portion so that the flap hangs over a front of the golfer's belt.
 17. The golf cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the fastening portion includes at least one rigid member and an exposed side made of an absorbent cleaning material, the at least one rigid member providing structural support to the exposed side to clean a golf-related item with the cleaning material of the exposed side of the fastening portion.
 18. The golf cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the cleaning portion includes an average width and the fastening portion includes an average width less than the average width of the cleaning portion.
 19. A method of advertising using a golf cleaning device, comprising: providing a golf cleaning device comprising a cleaning portion made of an absorbent cleaning material, a non-exposed side and an exposed side with advertising, and a fastening portion connected to the cleaning portion; providing a horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist; connecting the fastening portion of the golf cleaning device to the horizontally extending support adjacent a golfer's waist so that the cleaning portion hangs down from a golfer's waist area partway along a leg of the golfer and the exposed side of the cleaning portion is exposed away from the golfer displaying the advertising.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one of a removable ball marker and a divot-repair tool are carried by the golf cleaning device, and the method further includes removing at least one of the ball marker from the golf cleaning device and marking a golf ball on the green with the ball marker, and removing the divot-repair tool from the golf cleaning device and repairing a divot with the divot-repair tool. 